An Anatomy
of Anchors
 [37] Larsen, D. Samplers: Nine Vicious Little Hypertexts. Watertown, MA: Eastgate Systems, 1998. (aesthetic)

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Samplers uses the map functions of Storyspace [13] to alert readers to content placement (see Patchwork Girl's [26] similar use of the Storyspace map, and Lexia to Perplexia's [43] more extreme use of partial maps).

Like Ferris Wheels [33] and Sand Loves [38], the structure of the map itself shows the structure of the fabula. In each of the nine short stories in Samplers, the physical location of the node indicates its role in the story. Each story uses a quilt square to display a patterned map structure that shows the plot and connections of the story.The quilt square, while whooly anchoral is made of many separate anchors and each graphic piece is stitched to its corresponding fabulaic node. In Interlocked, the red diamond follows a girl through her remembered molestation and the blue through her current first love.

 


Screenshot used by permission. This is not an anchor, but an icon showing the place of the action--a different paper, perhaps

The red diamond traces the memories of incestuous encounters with her father, the blue diamond traces her first love, and the center holds the key of memory:

 


Screenshot used by permission. This is not an anchor, but an icon showing the place of the action--a different paper, perhaps

The Windows version of Storyspace Reader allows readers to view the underlying node structure, which also shows one sublevel of nodes. The nodes in Samplersare arranged as they appear on the quilted map:


Screenshot used by permission. This is not an anchor, but an icon showing the place of the action--a different paper, perhaps

Storyspace allows several layers of nodes, and as the key is the center square, this square holds another sequence for the main character's subconscious memories. Other samplers are only on a single layer of nodes in the Storyspace maps.

Multiple Anchors

In Samplers, a single anchor can have two or more link destinations, each with a path name. These highlight critical choices in the text. This illustrates the need to distinguish between anchor and link density.

Decoration

Each of the short stories in Samplers uses a different anchor decoration for the embedded anchors to convey the tone of the story:

  • Selective anchors in Mystic Knot add an element of exploration and surprise as an intelligent traffic barrier finds its place in San Francisco.
  • Modest underlined anchors in Interlocked show the thematic connections of incest and lovers without distracting the reader from the main story.
  • Striking anchors in Firewheel show the connections burning through the philosophical underpinnings of the story.